The Two Confessions by John Whitbourn (good books to read for adults .TXT) 📕

top to bottom. ‘If you have to ruin a man's life I see there's ways ofphrasing it nicely....’

‘Imay have to wish you good-day, Mr Trevan. It's queries I've bided here for, notsarcasm.’

‘Anddon't for a moment think I'm not gaspingly grateful,’ said Samuel.‘Yeah, there's a few things I'd like to ask.’

‘Fireaway.’

‘Don'ttempt me. London's out, I see.’

‘Alasyes. Within seven days from service. Your name is infamous, your exampleunwelcome; you can never return.’

‘Onpain of?’

Theofficer’s brow creased.

‘Mediterraneangalley service is the usual thing: though I've rarely seen the penalty imposed.I must tell you that the galley captains of the Hospitallers of St John areharsh masters, their enemies many. The ten year sentence is not often survived.Is London-life worth that risk?’

‘Nope,’answered Trevan: swift and sure. ‘It holds no intrinsic appeal and I'm acountry boy for preference anyhow. Never fear, I'll be gone if required to.However, there's also mention of compensation; that sounds good: unexpected butgood.’

Theofficer shook his snowy head.

‘MotherChurch does not steal, Mr Trevan. Always in these cases the market value of thebusiness is assessed and refunded - less expenses and a deduction for anyimmoral enhancement of worth. The Archbishop's office will write to you with a- non-negotiable - offer. You may nominate a Hebrew goldsmith or Church Bank tohold it, or even take receipt in cash.’

Samuelmustered a gallows-grin.

‘That'llmake writing to my prospective father-in-law a sight easier. It was tricky tryingto break the news he’s gaining a beggar for a son.’

‘You'llnote there's restrictions on the money's use.’

‘Yeah:no further 'enterprise or employment'. For life?’

‘‘Inperpetuity’; which is the same. Also the money is conditional.’

‘Ahyes, that was my second major question: the confession business. What happensif I'm not given absolution?’

Theofficer leant back in the armchair. They had reached the point where Christianintegrity forbade the slightest softening of edges. That stage was honoured withan expression of grave regret.

‘Then,’he said slowly, inclining his hook nose in fatherly manner towards Trevan,dutifully anxious there be no grounds for mistake or doubt, ‘forget money,marriage and all else. Exercise your rowing arm instead.’

‘Ah....’

Theofficer stood up to go. He'd now stressed the one truly needful thing. In aneutral sort of way he wished this half-tamed ruffian well.

‘IfI may speak plain, young man, I suspect you've considerably advanced yourselfin life. Your accent and manners still - just - reveal that. So, how sad itwould be to end your - shortened - days criss-crossing the Middle Sea: belowdecks and in chains. Accept my counsel, which is, I assure you, disinterestedand well meant. Repent handsomely, be shriven and complete your pilgrimage onearth as best you may. Why waste your one life and the troubles taken so far?You've come a long way Mr Trevan....’

Hehad indeed.

U[U[U[U[U[U[U

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'And the King of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughterof Cherorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh,which is the king's dale.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he wasthe priest of the most high God.

And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abraham of the most high God,possessor of heaven and earth:

And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemiesinto thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.'

Genesis.Ch. 14, v. 18-20.

'... this Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of the most high God, whomet Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings, and blessed him;

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being byinterpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, whichis, King of peace;

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neitherbeginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abidetha priest continually.

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the PatriarchAbraham gave the tenth of the spoils.'

StPaul's Epistle to the Hebrews. Ch. 7, v. 1-4.

'... Now, Melchizedek is a most interesting biblical personage; amysterious, elusive and prophetic figure; a vehicle for all manner of symbolic portents,the significance of which are perhaps not fully unfolded and revealed to useven to this day. Though often referred to, for instance in the Psalms of Davidand by the apostle Paul, we meet him but once and then but briefly. ThePatriarch Abraham has gained victory over the Kings Amraphel, Arioch,Chedorlaomer and Tidal, who had kidnapped his son Lot when they prevailed overthe doomed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The priest-king Melchizedek of Salem,an even then ancient name for Jerusalem, appears as from nowhere to approve thetriumph. Our Father-in-faith, Abraham, defers to him, for reasons notvouchsafed to us, and accepts his blessing in the form of bread and wine. StPaul attests to Melchizedek's puzzling precedence by noting that 'that which isless is blessed by the better'. By contrast, the gratitude and gifts of theKing of Sodom are disdained and rejected by Abraham.

We do not know the antecedents of Melchizedek, this primary monotheist,we do not learn his fate or hear one jot or tittle more of him. He draws backinto the obscurity of the Bronze Age where, in this life, our curiosity cannotfollow. Faith, however, allows us to be patient in our unknowing, whereas thepagan must be resigned to ignorance amidst his despair. The creed that has itsroots in Melchizedek and Abraham inspires the quiet confidence that one day,for each and every one of us, all shall be revealed. Yes: just consider thatfor a moment: ALL!

Meanwhile, though this story's prefiguring of the Christian sacrifice ofbread and wine is crystal clear, we are left to wonder what other revolutionarytruths might be concealed within....'

 

'A Concordance to the Book of Genesis (together with a meditation on thesignificance of certain antediluvian animal relicts recovered in the County ofSussex).'

CardinalDave-Pierre Fairfax, Archbishop of New Wessex, Australasia. Fiat Lux World-widePress Corporation, Brighton, England, the year of our Salvation 2420 AD.

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cHAPTER 5

Samuel Melchizedek Trevanwas born in the Downs Country. Or so he always maintained. When sufficientlyoff-guard to answer such questions, it suited him to say he came into beingthere. The assertion was broadly true, in the sense that his earliestrecollections were set amidst those chalk-ranges of southern England. Hiscustodians would neither confirm nor deny